A few thoughts on individual performances in tonights game....

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I was impressed by the second team left and right guards, Colin Brown & Daryl Harris.

Harris played very well and could be the eventual replacement for Waters. It's only one preseason game but I liked what I saw quite a bit. He's 6'4, 300, so he's got ideal size. Colin Brown didn't play as "tall" as I expected him to play. I thought that at 6'7, he'd stand out like a sore thumb but he looked like Richardson when they were side by side. I saw no drop off in play when Brown replaced Goff, although Brown played against the 2nd & 3rd teamers.

Just finished rewatching the game, and, yes, I was impressed with the play of both Brown and Harris.

They were both quicker than the guys they replaced, getting out and pulling, and getting into position on a screen.
They handled their blocking assignments without getting double team help in pass protect.
As I noted elsewhere, Brown get clowned on one play in which he gave up a sack, but that was his only real hiccup.

Harris was just flat out impressive for an UDRFA.

Also, in watching the inteerior linemen, I saw that Niswanger did a better job of keeping his backside down at the snap, but he was still slow getting out of his stance and getting up and into position to bolck.
Unfortunately, he is still (marginally) better than Eric Ghiaciuc.

I was pleasantly surprised (and initially, confused) about Richardson on the left side. His pass protection was very good and he did well in the run game. He wasn't nearly as effective on the right side and as someone suggested earlier, it's looking like he should be the primary backup to Albert. Whoda thunk? The Chiefs with three legitimate left tackles.

Agreed, though it appears he's going to be given the chance to win the job at RT.

On defense, I was impressed with Corey Mays. He just appeared to be every where. Hali was better than "expected" but I wasn't expecting much. It's very clear that if the Chiefs can't find a reasonable solution at NT that teams will just run us over. Facing backs like Ray Rice, Darren McFadden, Rashard Mendenhall and so on really scares me at this point.

Dorsey, Jackson and Magee did their jobs but this defense won't be successful and complete without two edge pass rushers, a tough strong safety and most importantly, a nose tackle.

Also, I like Wright's potential and look forward to watching his progress in the coming weeks. Any other receiver not named Bowe, Bradley or Wright weren't impressive. And finally, our tight end position sucks ****ing ass. Woo-hoo!

Corey Mays was impressive, and I just can't see how there is any way that Zach Thomas should be starting ahead of him when he finally makes his way out of the tub.

Thomas was clearly on the decline when he was released by the Dolphins, and he wasn't all that good in the Cowboys 34 last year.

DJ showed more consistency in his play in this game than in any game that I can remember.
This scheme appears to be a good fit for him, though I don't know that he will ever play up to his draft position.

Hali was better than expected, but he has a long way to go, and Andy Studebaker looks quicker, faster, more athletic, and seems to have adjusted far more qucikly to the transiton from DE than Hali, not only outshining Hali as a pass rusher, but far more disciplined in run defense, and more fluid in dropping back in pass coverage, though there's still more work there.
I won't be the least bit surprised if he replaces Hali in the starting lineup by the start of the season.

With Dorsey, Jackson, and Magee, it appears we have a solid DE rotation, but Alex Boone was nearly as ineffective at DE as Ron Edwards was at NT.
Tank Tyler outplayed Edwards with the second unit, and should be given an opportunity to line up with the first team
He won't be the answer there, but he doesn't appear to be nearly as big a question.

Our situation at WR appearss to be a fluid situation and a continuing work in progress.